Namibia secured a thrilling victory over Oman in their T20 World Cup Group B clash in Barbados on Sunday, winning in a dramatic super over after both teams ended their innings with 109 runs. David Wiese was the star for Namibia, contributing significantly with both bat and ball during the super over to clinch the win at Kensington Oval.
The match had a nail-biting finish with Oman initially looking set for defeat after Ruben Trumpelmann’s impressive four-wicket haul restricted them to 109 runs in 19.4 overs. However, Oman’s bowlers, led by Mehran Khan's outstanding performance of three wickets for seven runs off three overs, kept the game tightly contested.
Namibia needed just five runs in the final over to secure victory but Khan’s disciplined bowling took two crucial wickets, pushing the match into a super over. Despite Khan's excellent spell, Oman chose Bilal Khan over Mehran for the super over, a decision that backfired as David Wiese hit a four and a six off Bilal’s first two balls, amassing 13 runs and setting a challenging target of 22 runs for Oman.
Wiese then took the ball for Namibia in the super over, conceding just two runs from the first two deliveries and taking the wicket of Naseem Khushi. Oman needed 18 runs from the final ball to win, but Wiese’s effective bowling ensured they only managed a six, sealing the victory for Namibia as Oman finished their super over with 10 runs.
Wiese expressed his relief and excitement after the game, acknowledging the emotional toll and highlighting his confidence in both his batting and bowling during the super over. "I definitely aged a couple of years tonight," the 39-year-old Wiese said. "And I don't have a lot of years left in me. It was an emotionally draining evening."
Oman’s captain, Aqib Ilyas, defended the decision to bowl Bilal Khan in the super over, citing Bilal's expertise despite the misexecution on the day. "I think Bilal is one of the best bowlers you can have at this level," Aqib said. "But there are days where you plan and it doesn't execute."
Earlier in the match, Trumpelmann set the tone by taking two wickets with the first two balls, finishing with a four-wicket haul. Wiese also contributed with a 3-28 performance during the regulation overs. Despite these efforts, Namibia’s run chase faced difficulties, with notable contributions from Jan Frylinck (45) and Niko Davin (24) bringing them close to the target but ultimately necessitating the super over.
This victory was crucial for Namibia, demonstrating their resilience and capability to handle pressure situations as they continue their campaign in the T20 World Cup.
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